Dispensing apparatus for strip material



Sept. 14, 1948. c. L. REYNOLDS 2,449,508

DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR STRIP MATERIAL Filed Oct. 3, 1945 I l N l E N TOR 67/4/42 514 AZe-m/a 0: 6%, M K k A TTORNEVS Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR STRIP MATERIAL Charles L. Reynolds, Qeorgetown, Del, Application October 3, 1945, Serial No. 620,091

vof wicks for oil lamps, stoves, cabinet heaters and range burners.

In the dispensing of wicks according. to the practice heretofore in use, the wick material is supplied to stores in the form of rolls of varyin sizes, each size for a specific type of stove, heater or range burner, and from which rolls the storekeeper selects the one required for the customer and then cuts the length of wick required for the particular burner or stove. As such wicks are sold in hardware stores in cities and ruralsections, as well as in small country general stores, the rolls of wicking are generally carelessly stored, left on countersafter use, misplaced, and often damaged by being left around promiscuously. Also yard sticks are required to measure proper lengths and these are misplaced to add to the delay in purchasing.

Someof the objects of the present invention are: to provide an improved apparatus for dispensing wicks made of wire, interwoven asbestos and spun glass for use with oil heaters and stoves; to provide a dispensing apparatus wherein all wick material for every type'of oil heater or stove is segregated in a single unit whereby the storekeeper is relieved of providing special storing receptacles, the wick material is always conveniently at hand, and the materialis protected from damage; to provide a dispensing apparatus wherein indicating means are associated with the apparatus so that the Storekeeper is advised as to the width and length of any wick to be used for each heater or stove and thus saves the time heretofore lost in hunting for misplaced data, and ensures against errors in supplying either the wrong wick or the wrong length of wick; to provide an associated and convenient mechanism for measuring and cutting the wicks; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents a perspective of a wick dispensing apparatus embodying one form of the present invention; Fig 2 represents a side elevation of the same partly broken away; Fig. 3 represents on a reduced scale a front elevation of the same also partly broken away; Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary detail of the cutter carriage in operative position.

Referring to the drawings, one form of the present invention consists of an open top receptacle or tray I!) having forwardly tapered sides so that the front of the receptacle is of less height than the back in order to give a clear view of the contents. As shown, the front and rear walls of the 3 Claims. (Cl. 242- 55.4)

receptacle are interconnected by a plurality of parallel partitions l I forming a plurality of compartments l2 for respectively. receiving the rolls of. wicking. Each pair of partitions are spaced a difierent distance apart, such distance, in each case, being such as to provide a compartment for a wick of certain width. Likewise, each end partition H is spaced from its receptacleside a distan-ce conforming to' a particular wide width. Thus, as each length of wicking is supplied in roll form, each roll l3 can be dropped into the compartment designed to receive it. It should be particularly noted that each roll of wicking is sup.- ported by the bottom of the tray and can be unreeled independently of all of the other rolls. Also, since there is no shaft or cores forthe rolls, no time is lost in replacing used rolls. Further.- more, since the rolls seat by gravity upon the tray bottom, the friction created as a length of wick is unroiled is sufficient to prevent back-lash or overrunning ofthe material which is an inherent disadvantage of core or shaft mounted rolls.

V For the, purpose of cutting oil? the required lengths of wicking, the front of the tray I0 is providedwith an offset, horizontally disposed rod M, which forms a support and guide for a carriage l 5 which is pivoted thereon and extends outwardly from the aforesaid. front to mount the lower blade of a pair of shears l6, sothat the latter are parallel to the front and spacedtherefrom a sufficient distance to give enough clearance for the hand of the user to follow the positioning movement of the shears across the front of the tray. It should be noted that the pivot of the carriage formed lcy the rod M is so located as to allow the carriage to swing upwardly for free sliding movement in making an adjustment, but when making a cut the. weight of the carriage bearing against the front in effect locks the carriage against sliding movement when the shears are operating and thus ensures a clean cut of the particular wicking being severed. In other words the pivot for the carriage is above and eccentric to the center of gravity, so that the carriage automatically bears frictionally against the face of the tray when lowered to a cutting position.

In order to accurately out each wick to the length desired, a measurin strip I! is supplied, which is graduated in inches, and is arranged to be attached at one end in close proximity to the lower blade of the shears Hi. In this instance, a finger l 8 is fixed to the said blade to enter a hole 20 in the end of the strip l1 and thereby support the strip at one end while the other end is held by the left hand of the user in a horizontal posi- 2| so that it can be folded when not in use, but;

opened to full length when attached to the finger [8 of the shears. When the measuring strip I1 is not in use it can be folded and placed in retaining clips 22 on one side of the tray. The end portion of the strip H, which is nearest the shears I6 is provided with informative d-ata'which' lists" the names of all standard oil stoves and heaters and the length of wicking required for each, so that each wick can be drawn out to the proper inch graduation and thus cut to. exact length. Also, the other end of the strip I1 is provided with data giving the names of all range burners, together with the correct length of Wick to be cut for ea h.

It will now be apparent that a complete unitary dispensing tray has been devised wherein rolls of; wicking arearranged in segregated relation and visible at all times for easy selection of the wick called. for. Also, since the rolls are not free running due to the frictional contact with the base, there is no danger of over-running in pul1- ing out a wick for measuring. The slight drag is unnoticeable when pulling out a'wick but brings the wickto a stop immediately when the wick has. reached its proper length. Furthermore, the scissors provide the very essential shearing action which is required to cut woven tape evenly so that no loose strands are left. When the carriage is being adjusted transversely of the tray, the weight is carried by the hand, but when in position for shearing it is anchored by the gravity bearing of the carriage against the front of the tray.

By' the present invention delays to the purchaser are largely eliminated because heretofore a clerk had, to searchfor a yard stick and a pair of shears, which are seldom where wanted in a rural store. Also mistakes as to proper length of wicking for a particular stove are obviated by the data attached as a part of the complete dispenser.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1'. Adispensing apparatus consisting of an open top tray, partitions in said tray forming compartments respectively for rolls of wicking, each compartment being of a width to receive a particular roll of wicking and each roll when in its compartmerit frictionally contacting the bottom of said tray, a carriage, means mounting said carriage on said tray for pivotal and sliding movement, said means being above and eccentric to the center of gravity of said carriage and a pair of shears operatively mounted upon said carriage, the arrangement being such that swinging said carriage away from said tray allows said carriage and shears to be moved laterally for selective alinement with. said compartments, and releasing said carriage to swin by gravity produces a frictional interlock between said carriage and tray during a cutting operation.

2. A dispensing apparatus consisting of an open top tray having sides sloping to the front, partitions in said tray forming compartments respectively forrolls of wicking exposed to view by said sloping sides, each compartment serving to receive a roll of wicking in frictional contact with the bottom of said tray, a carriage, means eccentrically mounting said carriage on the front of said tray for sliding movement transverse with respect to said compartments, and a pair ofshears oper-atively mounted upon said carriage, whereby said shears can be moved laterally for alinement with any compartment for a cutting operation.

3. A dispensing apparatus consisting of an open top tray, partitions in said tray forming compartments respectively for rolls of wicking, each compartment being of a width to receive a particular roll of wicking and each roll when in its compartment frictionaliy contacting the bottom of said tray, a carriage, means mounting said carriage on said tray for pivotal and sliding move ment, said means being above and eccentric to the center of gravity of said carriage a pair of shears operatively mounted upon said carriage, the arrangement being such that swingingsaid carriage away from said tray allows said carriage and shears to be moved laterally for selective alinement with said compartments, and releasin said carriage to swing by gravity produces a frictional interlock between said carriage and tray during a cutting operation, a rigid measuring strip, and means to attach said strip to said carriage for selective alin-ement with said wicking rolls, whereby a length of wicking can be withdrawn from a roll, supported on said strip, accurately measured, and then cut by said shears.

' CHARLES L. REYNOLDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED- STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 331,863 Brown et al. Dec. 8,1885 757,844 Scott Apr, 19,. 1904 1,927,976 Evans Sept. 26, 1933 

